Third round of ’Indradhanush’ Dec. 7 - 15

Third round of ’Indradhanush’ Dec. 7 - 15

Mangalore Today News Network

Dec 03, 2015: Third round of Mission Indradhanush, that seeks to immunise pregnant women and children below 2 years, would be conducted between December 7 and December 15.

District Health Officer Ramakrishna Rao told presspersons that during the first round of the Mission in October, 606 pregnant women out of the identified 1,324 and 2,582 children out of 4,657 kids were immunised. During the second round in November, 511 pregnant women out of 1,292 and 2,027 children out of 4,703 identified kids were immunised.

Mission Indradhanush, a project of the Central government, is aimed at immunising all children as only 65 per cent of the children were getting immunised despite universal immunisation programmes. The process starts from pregnant women, who would be given anti-tetanus injections, and continues till the child attains 2 years of age.

During the period the newborn would be administered vaccines to prevent hepatitis B, polio, measles, diphtheria, booster doses and other relevant vaccines, Dr. Rao said.

The department is focussing on migrant population in the district, mainly construction workers, as well as people staying in hilly terrains and slums. The drive would be conducted for a week, except on December 10 because of universal immunisation programme and December 13, public holiday.

Various government departments, including women and children development, education, transport, power, information departments, private medical colleges and others would participate in the mission where Asha and Anganwadi workers, NGO volunteers would take forward the campaign, Dr. Rao said.